Wine Enthusiast: "Reaching cult status in Italy”
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2019 Tenuta di Fessina Erse Etna Rosso DOC Sicily 750 ml
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- Get credited back if a wine fails to impress
Nerello at Its Elegant, Ethereal Best
Volcanic eruptions can be violent. They can be majestic. And in the case of Sicily’s Tenuta di Fessina, they can be the perfect recipe for an estate that ranks as “one of the best in the territory,” according to Wine Advocate.
Grown on 70-year-old vines high on Mt. Etna at 2300 feet of elevation and made from Sicily’s noble Nerello Mascalese grape, Fessina’s 2019 Erse Etna Rosso shows a super-clean and pure style reminiscent of Burgundy or soulful Sangiovese, but also carries the light grippiness that typifies great Etna Rosso.
“The purity of grape and place is absolutely singing in this wine!” said our Master Somm, Sur Lucero, who is a Fessina evangelist. “It’s just a gorgeous wine for the price.”
Aged for a shorter time than some of the denser examples of Nerello Mascalese, this is the grape at its elegant, ethereal best. It shows why Fessina’s wines have garnered several Tre Bicchieri awards—Italy’s highest wine honors—and are “quickly reaching cult status,” according to Wine Enthusiast.
Two ancient lava flows flank the Fessina property, which is on the north side of Etna—the most active volcano in Europe. Centuries of eruptions and ash have gifted the site with mineral-rich soils that, when paired with coolness from the altitude—and Fessina’s meticulous viticultural skills—consistently deliver graceful, vibrant, and structured wines.
Nerello Mascalese is a sommelier-favorite grape because of its supreme versatility. Think of it as the Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo of Etna. Every sip transmits energetic volcanic character and will thrill fans of Burgundy, Barbaresco, and Brunello. A touch of Nerello Cappuccio lends the wine color and softness, while dashes of Minnella and Carricante—two indigenous white varieties—contribute vibrancy and aromatic complexity.